Does HF make a lathe...

[bryanrabb]

That is Bench size that is not a POS? I have a 15% off coupon. I am itching to burn it, but don't want a POS

[Ed Boysun]

The guy at this link seems to be a bit knowledgable about lathes.
Lathe Comparison.
He has a decent opinion of the HF 8X12
So going on his advice, I ordered one and have a few pictures of it HERE.
It is still on sale at HF for $439.99 plus their $50 flat rate shipping. With your discount certificate you should be in the lathe business for about $425. I think it is a very nice machine. The price makes it even better!
Ed

[Dan S]

I have a HF 8x12 (Really 8x14) and i second it as a great machine.

[Runner4404spd]

i've got a 9x20 and although it needed some tweaking, its finally in really good shape and i love using it. plus the extra size helps.

[bryanrabb]

what were the major tweaks/mods you made and would reccomend?

Thanks

[Runner4404spd]

i would have to say the best tweak that got me 75% of the way there was the 4 bolt clamp. the next thing was a repair that i found after searching for a while. basically one of the bolts that holds the spindle housing down to the bed was stripped out. i got my lathe used but it wouldn't surprise me if more of them were like this. a helicoil later and tramming in the head stock and everything is turning great. for more ideas look at

http://bedair.org/9x20.html

[bryanrabb]

first of all, your skills are way out of my league. when it comes to milling, i barely know my ass from a hole in the ground. I know slightly less about lathes. I am getting there, and I am pretty good at fab work. How did you come to aquire your skills with a mill and lathe?

[bryanrabb]

also, i am quite impressed with the projects on your site.

[Runner4404spd]

whoa, thats not my site. steve bedair is the man when it comes to the 9x20. i only took some ideas from him. i started like you about 2 1/2 years ago with minimal experience. bought a couple of used machines and went to town trying to figure it out. alot of questions and alot of reading later. i actually figured out how to turn the darn thing on. just kidding, alot of those two years was spent practicing and figuring stuff out. although i will not allow my machines to limit what i can do.

there is always a way.

[bryanrabb]

what would be the 5 most important things you would buy after you bought a lathe? I am thinking of buying this http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...DME:B:AAQ:US:1 I can get it for $800 delivered. Is that a good buy?

[Runner4404spd]

thats not a bad deal, i can get that lathe for 795 minus the stand all day. mind you i have the stand and its garbage. its designed so a 4 year old can work the lathe, its way to short. in any case, harbor freight also carries this lathe and they are all about the same quality. i bought a used one for $450 a couple of years ago. but try and get HF to match the price of the lathe and then use one of the 15% off coupons. also i would recommend the quick change tool post for 89.99 and get a good set of turning tools. not the harbor freight ones. get them from KBC or wttools.com or MSC.

[sanddrag]

I like my 8x12 (it is actually 8x14, but HF calls it 8x12). I think it is better built than the 9x20.